Texas

New polling related to the Texas Senate race is drawing attention, with people discussing what the numbers could mean for the contest. Specific figures and candidates named in the polls are not yet clear, but political watchers are weighing whether the results signal a shift in a race that has drawn national attention.

The Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge in South Texas, once described as a "crown jewel" of American protected spaces, is running out of time, according to reporting by Gaige Davila for the Texas Observer. A last-ditch lawsuit is attempting to slow border wall construction through the refuge until Congress can intervene, as advocates warn the refuge's habitats and wildlife are at risk.

Federal officials say the man shot by an ICE officer in Austin, Texas was an undocumented immigrant from Venezuela, according to DHS sources. The shooting has drawn attention amid ongoing national debate over immigration enforcement, with questions expected over how the encounter unfolded and under what circumstances agents opened fire.

A federal court ruling requires Texas to install air conditioning in its prisons by 2029. The decision follows years of complaints about extreme heat inside facilities, where temperatures can become dangerous during Texas summers. Officials will now need to fund and complete cooling upgrades across the state prison system within the court-imposed deadline.

A man was killed in a shooting in Fort Worth, Texas, and a second man has been charged with murder in connection with the death. Local news reports confirmed the fatality and the charge, though few further details about the circumstances or identities involved have been released so far.

A Texas appeals court has rejected a ruling that declared a woman innocent after she spent 18 years on death row. The decision keeps her capital conviction intact and her execution eligibility unresolved, renewing debate over the case among death penalty opponents, defence lawyers and criminal justice advocates who have long argued she was wrongly convicted.

US Immigration and Customs Enforcement is reported to be considering mobile detention units, while a shooting involving an agent in Texas has drawn widespread criticism. Together, the developments have intensified debate over immigration enforcement tactics and the use of force by federal agents.

The Department of Homeland Security has filed immigration detainers for two men accused of causing a fatal crash in New Braunfels, Texas. Authorities are holding the pair while immigration status is reviewed alongside criminal proceedings. The case has drawn attention amid ongoing debate over immigration enforcement and crimes involving people in the country without legal status.

A South Texas editorial argues that a recent appellate court ruling in the case of Melissa Lucio, the Texas woman facing execution for the 2007 death of her daughter, is unlikely to shift public opinion on either side. The case has drawn sustained attention from death penalty opponents and supporters alike, with debate centered on whether her conviction was sound and whether her claims of innocence and coercion warrant relief.

US Representative Joaquin Castro, attorney Sigrid Gonzalez and civil rights lawyer Rochelle Garza took part in a discussion about conditions in Texas' ICE detention centers, broadcast by San Antonio outlet KSAT. The conversation focused on immigration enforcement and detention practices in the state, an issue that continues to draw scrutiny from lawmakers and advocacy groups.

A city council candidate in Texas is facing a 'riot participation' charge linked to her protest of an ICE shooting. The charge against the aspiring local official has drawn attention to ongoing tensions over immigration enforcement and the treatment of protesters. Observers are weighing what the prosecution means for both her candidacy and demonstrations against ICE activity in the region.

A sitting US senator from Texas has publicly taken aim at a fellow Republican who is running to succeed him, delivering a pointed jab in the intraparty contest for his seat. The exchange highlights growing friction in the Texas Republican primary, as party figures jockey over the senator's political legacy and the direction of the seat once he steps aside.

Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman has pushed back against criticism that he is a bad senator, amid frustration from fellow Democrats. He has repeatedly criticized his own party, fueling speculation that he could caucus with Republicans after the 2026 midterm elections. Speaking at the Texas Tribune Festival, Fetterman defended his record and his independent streak, insisting his bipartisan approach serves Pennsylvania voters rather than party interests.

A Democratic candidate for Congress in East Texas is speaking publicly about their bid to unseat an incumbent party that has held the district's congressional seat since 2005. Local outlet KLTV covered the race, with the candidate discussing their campaign and the challenge of flipping a district that has voted Republican for nearly two decades.